Site description The Wet Tropic lowlands IBA is situated along the tropical east coast of northern Queensland. The boundary follows the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area which includes areas that are used by the defence department, are aboriginal freehold, unallocated state land and small reserves. It encompasses cassowary habitat including the Mission Beach area, which is considered by some to be the most significant area of cassowary habitat in the Wet Tropics. The climate is monsoonal with a pronounced wet season and a dry season moderated by moist trade winds. Lowland areas within the IBA encompass small areas of un-modified forested floodplain, while the majority of the IBA is made up of low hills and ranges. Native vegetation is predominantly tropical rainforest, with smaller areas of open eucalypt and paperbark forests, wetlands and mangroves.

Key Biodiversity The Coastal Wet Tropics IBA contains a wide range of lowland rainforest bird species, including the rare subspecies Rufous Owl subspecies queenslandica. Other habitats include extensive remote beaches, which support Beach Stone-curlew, and some small but well-populated freshwater wetlands, such as at Eubenangee National Park. The rainforest avifauna is complemented by a range of species, such as the near threatened Bush Stone-curlew and biome-restricted Yellow Honeyeater, that occur only in the mosaic of eucalypt and meleleuca woodlands which are present in patches with poorer soil or drainage or where there has been a history of fire.

Non-bird biodiversity: The Coastal Wet Tropics IBA contains populations of two species of endangered frog, Common Mistfrog and Lace-eyed Tree Frog, while the southern extent of the IBA encompasses a significant area of habitat for the Mahogany Glider. The area also contains a number of threatened plant species and Regional Ecosystems. Given its location in the Wet Tropics, and the relative paucity of survey information available for many of the forested areas, other significant fauna and flora values are almost certainly present within the IBA.

Habitats

Land ownership Queensland State Government - Parks and Wildlife, Aboriginal land and the Department of Defence.

Land use

Land-use

Extent (% of site)

nature conservation and research

major

military

minor

other

minor

Notes: Indigenous

Protection status Numerous - see separate listing.

Acknowledgements Thanks to Alastair Freeman for compiling the nomination.

References Crome, F.H.J. and Moore, L.A. (1990) Cassowaries in north-eastern Queensland: report of a survey and a review and assessment of their status and conservation management needs. Australian Wildlife Research 17: 369-385.